The remarkable story of the Sunderland fan who has located thousands of lost bricks for his fellow Mackems | OneFootball

Sunderland supporter David Bambrough has built a searchable Wall of Fame mapping 33,672 engraved bricks around the Stadium of Light, using AI and relentless graft to help fans find dedications.

According to Sunderland Echo, he spent five weeks cataloguing panels so supporters can pinpoint names and share stories on his site.

Prompted by Facebook pleas and unsure of his own brick, he feared the logistics with over 20,000 stones. After a family visit for his son's karate at the Beacon of Light, he photographed a panel and tested image recognition. Early errors gave way to a working pipeline, and the project became an obsession.

One fan found a late friend’s brick beside their turnstile and plans to touch it for luck. Another father, searching with his daughters after his mother’s dementia, located his dad’s brick instantly.

He also uncovered a brick for his late father, John Bambrough, an emotional discovery. It sits two panels from his own.

The Heaven Branch has invited him to a drop-in at the Betsy Jenny cafe, Bridge Street, from 11am to two pm on May 30th. Less tech-savvy supporters can get guidance on finding bricks and uploading memories.

For Bambrough, it is about people, echoing Brian Clough’s view that Sunderland was his happiest time and that supporters make the club.

Source: Sunderland Echo